Protective Effect of Total Panax Notoginseng Saponins on Retinal Ganglion Cells of an Optic Nerve Crush Injury Rat Model.

Irreversible loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is a common pathological feature of various optic nerve degenerative diseases such as glaucoma and ischemic optic neuropathy. Effective protection of RGCs is the key to successful treatment of these diseases. Total Panax notoginseng saponins (TPNS) are the main active component of Panax notoginseng, which has an inhibitory effect on the apoptosis pathway. This study is aimed at assessing the protective effect of TPNS on RGCs of the optic nerve crush (ONC) model of rats and exploring the underlying mechanisms. The intraperitoneal or intravitreal injection of TPNS was used based on the establishment of the rat ONC model. Fifteen days after the injury, the cell membrane fluorescent probe (Fluoro-Gold) was applied to retrograde RGCs through the superior colliculus and obtain the number of surviving RGCs. TUNEL assay was also used to detect the number and density of RGC apoptosis after the ONC model. The expression and distribution of Bcl-2/Bax, c-Jun/P-c-Jun, and P-JNK in the retina were demonstrated by Western blot analysis. After the intervention of TPNS, the rate of cell survival increased in different retinal regions (p < 0.05) and the number of apoptosis cells decreased. Regarding the expression of Bcl-2/Bax, c-Jun/P-c-Jun, and P-JNK-related apoptotic proteins, TPNS can reduce the level of apoptosis and play a role in protecting RGCs (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that topical administration of TPNS can inhibit cell apoptosis and promote RGC survival in the crushed optic nerve.

Efficacy, Drug Sensitivity, and Safety of a Chronic Ocular Hypertension Rat Model Established Using a Single Intracameral Injection of Hydrogel into the Anterior Chamber.

BACKGROUND Chronic ocular hypertension (COH) models mostly focus on changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The present study evaluated important glaucoma-related changes in visual function, response to common ocular hypotensive drugs, and safety for our previously developed rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS The model was established through a single injection of hydrogel into the anterior chambers. Efficacy was assessed through F-VEP by measuring latency and amplitude of P1. We evenly divided 112 rats into 4 groups: control and COH at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Response to 5 common drugs (brimonidine, timolol, benzamide, pilocarpine, and bimatoprost) were each tested on 6 rats and assessed using difference in IOP. Safety assessment was conducted through histological analysis of 24 rats evenly divided into 4 groups of control and COH at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Corneal endothelial cells (CECs) of 24 additional rats were used to determine toxic effects through TUNEL and CCK-8 assays. RESULTS P1 latency and amplitude of VEP demonstrated the model is effective in inducing optic nerve function impairment. Only the drug pilocarpine failed to have an obvious hypotensive effect, while the other 4 were effective. CECs at 2, 4, and 8 weeks showed no significant differences from control groups in results of histological analysis, TUNEL, and CCK-8 assays. CONCLUSIONS A single injection of hydrogel into the anterior chamber is effective for modeling COH, can respond to most commonly used hypotensive drugs, and is non-toxic to the eyes.

Three new phenolic compounds from Dalbergia odorifera.

Three new phenolic compounds (1-3) were isolated from the heartwood of Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen. (Leguminosae). Their structures were established based on spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR (HSQC, COSY, HMBC and ROESY). Compound 2 exhibited cytotoxicity against BEL-7402 tumor cell lines.

[Chemical constituents of Dalbergia odorifera].

Fourteen compounds were isolated from Dalbergia odoriferae and purified by repeated column chromatography on silica and sephadex LH-20 gel and structurally identified by spectral analysis. These compounds were identified as 4, 9-dimethoxy-3-hydroxypterocarpan (1), medicarpin (2), 2', 4', 5-trihydroxy-7-methoxyisoflavone (3), 2', 3', 7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavan (4), formononetin (5), 3, 8-dihydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan (6), koparin (7), 3-hydroxy-9-methoxypterocarp-6a-ene (8), 2'-hydroxyformononetin (9), stevenin (10), 2', 7-dihydroxy-4', 5'-dimethoxyisoflavone (11), lyoniresinol (12), 2, 4-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-benzophenone (13) and neokhriol A (14). Compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 14 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Antibacterial activity assay showed that compound 4 had inhibitory effect on Ralstonia solanacearum.

Five new sesquiterpenoids from Dalbergia odorifera.

Five new sesquiterpenes (1-5) along with ten known ones were isolated from the heartwood of Dalbergia odorifrea T. Chen. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques including MS, UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR. Bioassay results showed that compounds 1 and 9 had inhibitory effect on Candida albicans, and compound 9 exhibited inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus by paper disk diffusion method.

A new eudesmane sesquiterpenoid lactone from Chloranthus japonicus.

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of the whole plant of Chloranthus japonicus. METHODS: Compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. RESULTS: Six sesquiterpenoids were obtained and their structures were identified as chlojaponilactone A (1), atractylenolide III (2), neolitacumone B (3), 10α-hydroxy-1-oxoeremophila-7(11), 8(9)-diene-8, 12-olide (4), shizukanolide C (5), and shizukanolide H (6). CONCLUSION: Compound 1 is a new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid lactone, and compounds 3 and 4 have been isolated from this species for the first time.

Anti-inflammatory flavonolignans from Hydnocarpus anthelminthica seeds.

A new flavonolignan, anthelminthicol A (1), together with four known compounds, was isolated from the EtOAc extracts of the seeds of Hydnocarpus anthelminthica. Their structures were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic techniques. Bioassay showed that compounds 3-5 could inhibit nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cell lines, with IC(50) values of 7.81, 9.38, and 10.55 µM, respectively.

[Study on HPLC fingerprint of water-soluble constituents of Carthamus tinctorius].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the HPLC-fingerprint of the water-soluble constituents of Carthamus tinctorius. METHODS: 18 samples of Carthamus tinctorius from different producing areas were determined by Agilent 1100 DAD-HPLC under the chromatographic conditions: column by SinoChrom ODS-BP (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm), methanol-0.7% H3PO4 water with gradient elution, column temperature 30 degrees C, flow rate by 1 ml/min, wavelength 280 nm, and inject volume 20 microl. RESULTS: The HPLC-fingerprint of the water-soluble constituents of Cartharnus tinctorius was established on the basis of 10 bitch of drugs from Xinjiang according to SPSS analysis. CONCLUSION: A reliable method is provided for the quality identification of Carthamus tinctorius.

Steroidal saponins from Lysimachia Paridiformis.

A new steroidal saponin, paridiformoside B (1), was obtained from the EtOH extract of the whole plant of Lysimachia Paridiformis Franch, togerher with one steroidal sapogenin (7) and seven known steroidal saponins (2-6, 8-9). Their structures were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic techniques including 1D and 2D NMR spectra.